Specialty Centers

In addition to the broad spectrum of programs in each comprehensive high school, Chesterfield County Public Schools offers students the opportunity to participate in optional academic programs related to special interests.

Other options for secondary students

Specialty center transportation

Bus stops are established within a three-mile radius of students’ residences. These are considered express stops. No intervening stops are made between the established stops, even though the bus may pass right by your door.

Routes and stops are established by the transportation office in the home school area of the student. For example, if the student normally attends James River High but enrolls in the Specialty Center for Visual and Performing Arts at Thomas Dale High, then transportation is through the transportation office responsible for James River.

Each year, routes are posted on this website and are available to schools by Aug. 15. Stops are created if the addresses do not fit existing stops (i.e. a new student does not live within a three-mile radius of an existing stop).

If you do not have access to the Internet, you may call the area transportation office:

Area 1 – Bird/Meadowbrook 804-743-3605

Area 2 – Midlothian/Monacan/James River 804-378-2475

Area 3 –Clover Hill/Manchester 804-739-6260

Area 4 – Matoaca/Thomas Dale 804-796-2604

Area 5 – Exceptional Education – 804-768-6124

With permission, students may ride a different bus in the afternoon. For example, if an afternoon bus leaves a specialty center going to a stop that is more helpful to the student and family, the student may ride that bus rather than the one taken in the morning.

Activity buses are available and leave from each specialty center about 4:30 p.m. to return students to their home school. Once at the home school, specialty center students are responsible for getting home just as all other students who stay after school for various activities.